At the end of March 2009 I had a very unfortunate incident at the end of a dive at Hook lighthouse where I ended up with 3 holes in my TLS 350 DUI Dry suit. One large hole and two smaller ones were scattered in an area roughly 4 inches long by 3 inches wide on the arm panel of my suit . Needless to say it was a pain in the rear especially as I was due to head of to Florida for my Cave 1 course in early May.
I had two real options:
- Send it back to the dealer and hope they would get to do an emergency (fast) repair job in time for me to have the suit back in time.
- or repair it myself.
As I was very nervous about sending my suit away due to the possible lead time to get it back I decided to investigate my “self repair” options.
This is when I found out about a product called “Tear Aid”. This product is a clear patch designed to repair tears, cuts etc in airtight, waterproof materials. It is apparently a durable, flexible, airtight, watertight, puncture-resistant, industrial-strength patch that protects against abrasion, moisture, saltwater and UV sunlight. It is recommended for the repair of rubber, neoprene, most plastics, nylon, stainless steel, aluminium, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane. If properly applied the manufacturer says that the patch is 'cured' highly flexible and the repair is ready for use after 1 hour! Hard to beat such a claim... I decided that I would use it to try to repair my suit. I ordered the Tear Aid Type “A” for use on my TLS 350.
The process was very very simple:
- I read the instructions – very simple!
- I use an Alcohol wipe to prep both sides of the suit (internal and external area)... I do this because I decided to apply a patch on both sides - not because the instructions said to - but more to the fact that I am kind of built that way.
- Then using a scissors to the long Tear Aid type A strip and cut it down to an appropriate size and 'round the corners'
- I inserted a DVD cover inside the arm of the suit to flatten out the area I intend to apply the patch to.
- Next peel off the paper backing from one edge of the prepared patch... With an exposed edge the patch is anchored to the suit
- Then pull the rest of the backing off slowly, making sure to rub out any trapped air during the process.
- Apply a lot of pressure and “rub” the patch onto the suit - force is encouraged in this process - rub out air pockets!
Since March I have dived extensively including some very difficult entries in Ginnie Springs where our dry suit “squeeze” is quite aggressive while entering Devils Ear etc… not once has this repair given way. I have to say that I found this a very quick, easy to deploy and rock solid repair option for a TLS 350 dry suit. In fact the repair would have been dive able after one hour of curing time – so anytime I am heading away diving now I always bring a box of Tear Aid type A just in case as it is an ideal field repair option.
It really was a very fast and 100% effective repair for my suit. When I first applied the patches I was thinking that when the winter season comes I would send the suit off to get the damaged panel replaced, but to be honest I have such confidence now in the patch I don’t think I will.
Pictures of the process back in March 2009.
Final Patch only looks shiny due to camera flash… its not like that in normal light… :)
Note: I have no commercial connection with Tear Aid, and I have not been solicited to express this opinion… I genuinely did find this a fantastic product and I ordered it at the time from DIR Direct in the UK.
